PORTARLINGTON residents could be forced to pay up to triple the estimated cost of road sealing for their residential streets under a City of Greater Geelong special charge proposal.<\/p>\n
Locals had supported the program when its cost was estimated at about $10,000 last year, but the city is now gauging support for a build priced much higher.<\/p>\n
The city has sent a proposed special rates charge (SRC) to residents for the sealing of seven dirt roads across Portarlington: Goodwill, Langdon, Traum, Willis, Harding, Park and Welfare streets.<\/p>\n
The works are expected to cost $4.25 million. The city would pay $1.06 million, with the remaining $3.19 million to be split between about 200 benefiting property owners.<\/p>\n
The charge is now out for consultation and would require residents to pay for the project if it receives majority support.<\/p>\n
Local resident Peter Walker said he was shocked to receive the inflated figures that he said completely changed his view on the project.<\/p>\n
“They did say [last year] ‘We haven’t costed it properly, but we think it’ll be around [$10,000] for this household’.<\/p>\n
“That’s why when my wife and I we talked about it we said well, given that you can pay it off over five years, even though it’s not interest free, we could probably do that.<\/p>\n
“But 28 grand? We have no hope.<\/p>\n
“I’m on the age pension, my wife works two days a week. There’s no way that we could.”<\/p>\n
Mr Walker started a petition last year to include Langdon Street between High and Harding streets in the SRC, when city officers suggested it would cost about $10,000 for the affected properties.<\/p>\n
But the proposed SRC released last month would charge several Langdon Street properties between $20,000 and $30,000.<\/p>\n
SRCs are used when an infrastructure project would benefit a small group of property owners but not the wider community, and the city charges local residents for part of the project.<\/p>\n
The city stated that it distributed the costs of the works based on property value.<\/p>\n
City of Greater Geelong acting city infrastructure executive director David Greaves said increasing construction costs had blown out its initial estaimtes.<\/p>\n
“If the works go ahead, we will aim to achieve the fairest price for the highest quality work through our tender process.<\/p>\n
“Once the consultation period is complete, staff will compile a report and make a recommendation to the council on whether to declare the scheme or not.”<\/p>\n
Mr Greaves also indicated SRCs would fall under the city’s financial hardship policy, meaning property owners could negotiate different payment arrangements if required.<\/p>\n
He encouraged impacted residents to have their say on the SRC.<\/p>\n
“This project is still in the consultation phase and will only go ahead with the support of the property owners involved.<\/p>\n
“We are inviting the property owners to participate in a survey to determine their level of support.”<\/p>\n
City officers were in Portarlington on Tuesday to answer questions about the special charge.<\/p>\n
A survey is now open to collect community feedback, and closes on August 17.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PORTARLINGTON residents could be forced to pay up to triple the estimated cost of road sealing for their residential streets under a City of Greater Geelong special charge proposal. Locals had supported the program when its cost was estimated at about $10,000 last year, but the city is now gauging support for a build priced […]<\/p>\n